Well drilling and servicing barge including bridge and rig structure and methods



Sept. 26, 1961 J. E. LUCAS 3,001,592

WELL DRILLING AND SERVICING BARGE INCLUDING I BRIDGE AND RIG STRUCTURE AND METHODS Filed Sept. 3, 1954 1'? Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR Jose vh E. Lamas BY Zm m ATTORNEYS Sept. 26, 1961 E. LUCAS me SER AND RIG s'r Sheets-Sheet 2 VICING B E INCLUDI RUCTURE A METHODS WELL DRILL BRIDGE Filed Sept. 5, 1954 INVENTOR Jasgah E. Lucas 3am f ATTORNEYS Sept. 26, 1961 J. E. LUCAS 3,001,592

WELL DRILLING AND SERVICING BARGE INCLUDING BRIDGE AND RIG STRUCTURE AND METHODS 17 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 5, 1954 INVENTOR Joseph E. Lucas AY HA ATTORNEYS Sept. 26, 1961 J. E. LUCAS 3,001,592

WELL DRILLING AND SERVICING BARGE INCLUDING BRIDGE AND RIG STRUCTURE AND METHODS 17 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 3, 1954 IN VENTOR ATTORNEYS p 1961 J. E. LUCAS 3,001,592

WELL DRILLING AND SERVICING BARGE INCLUDING BRIDGE AND RIG STRUCTURE AND METHODS Filed Sept. 3, 1954 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 8 69 465 m 1 15/ 5 I54 /44" f 1 i l 5' I 157 /20 M 1 T VI 9 I66 1 T I56 I i 5 1 6 l l E a I INVENTOR i E Jasqpb I Law; I I

BY Zam ATTORNEYS Sept. 26, 1961 J. E. LUCAS WELL. DRILLING AND SERVICING BARGE INCLUDING BRIDGE AND RIG STRUCTURE AND METHODS 17 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 3, 1954 INVENTOR Joseph E. Laws flu r W AWAV ATTORNEYS 17 Sheets-Sheet 7 LUCAS BRIDGE AND RIG STRUCTURE AND METHODS WELL DRILLING AND SERVICING BARGE INCLUDING Sept. 26, 1961 Filed Sept. 3, 1954 INVENTOR Jasqfi E. Laws ATTORNEYfi p 1961 .1. E. LUCAS 3,001,592

WELL DRILLING AND SERVICING BARGE INCLUDING BRIDGE AND RIG STRUCTURE AND METHODS Flled Sept 3, 1954 17 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR Josqall/E. Laws w r m ATTORNEYS Sept. 26, 1961 J. E. LUCAS 3,001, WELL DRILLING AND SERVICING BARGE INCLUDING BRIDGE AND RIG STRUCTURE AND METHODS Filed Sept. 3, 1954 17 Sheets-Sheet 9 'IIIIIIIYIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Sept. 26, 1961 J LUCAS 3,001,592

WELL DRILLING AND SERVICING BARGE INCLUDING BRIDGE AND RIG STRUCTURE AND METHODS Flled Sept 3, 1954 l7 Sheets-Sheet 10 say 112 INVENIOR Jbsepfi E. Luazs flm t vnaa/ ATTORNEYS Sept. 26, 1961 J. E. LUCAS 3,001,592

WELL DRILLING AND SERVICING BARGE INCLUDING BRIDGE AND RIG STRUCTURE AND METHODS Filed Sept. 5, 1954 17 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTOR Jasqph E. Lucas g 1 BY WW7 ATTORNEYS Sept. 26, 1961 J. E. LUCAS 3,001,592

WELL DRILLING AND SERVICING BARGE INCLUDING BRIDGE AND RIG STRUCTURE AND METHODS Filed Sept. 3, 1954 17 Sheets-Sheet l2 INVENTOR J'osejrh E. Lucas I ATTORNEYS Sept. 26, 1961 .1. E. LUCAS 3,001,592

WELL DRILLING AND SERVICING BARGE INCLUDING BRIDGE AND RIG STRUCTURE AND METHODS Filed Sept. 5, 1954 17 Sheets-Sheet 13 0 2 o [J20 /z/ 209 MW" l Z09 3 (Zana ATTORNEW Sept. 26, 1961 J E LUCAS 3,001,592

WELL DRILLING AND. SERVICING BARGE INCLUDING BRIDGE AND RIG STRUCTURE AND METHODS Filed Sept. 3, 1954 17 Sheets-Sheet 14 \C INVENTOR x 74 5 Z fisqalz E. Lzwas 157 /69 1m BY EM fizz-Wm ATTORNEYS Sept. 26, 1961 J. E. LUCAS 3,001,592

WELL DRILLING AND SERVICING BARGE INCLUDING BRIDGE AND RIG STRUCTURE AND METHODS Filed Sept. 5, 1954 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 fig. 26.

IN VENTOR Joseph E. Lucas BY ya m, riefl'wv ATTORNEY/S Sept. 26, 1961 J. E. LUCAS 3,00 ,5 2

WELL DRILLING AND SERVICING BARGE INCLUDING BRIDGE AND RIG STRUCTURE AND METHODS 17 Sheets-Sheet 16 Filed Sept. 5, 1954 I m INVENTOR. Jbsqpjl/ 15'. Lucas BY aze-1,

ATTORNEYS Sept. 26, 1961 J. E. LUCAS 3,001,592 WELL DRILLING AND SERVICING BARGE INCLUDING BRIDGE AND RIG STRUCTURE AND METHODS Filed Sept. 3, 1954 17 Sheets-Sheet 17 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3 001,592 WELL DRILLING AND SERVICING BARGE IN- CLUDING BRIDGE AND RIG STRUCTURE AND METHODS Joseph E. Lucas, Caracas, Venezuela, assignor to De Long Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 3, 1954, Ser. No. 454,098 19 Claims. or. 1758) The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for use in over-water well drilling and/ or servicing operations, including the installation, removal, etc. of caissons, platforms or other well head supporting structures.

More particularly, the invention relates to a barge or other marine structure adapted for use in erecting a platform or other Well head supporting structure in either deep or shallow water and which barge includes equipment for drilling and/or servicing a well after the well head supporting structure has been installed. The barge is constructed so that it can be raised above the water at a well site or, if desired, sunk in shallow water. In either case, a caisson or well head supporting structure is sunk beyond one edge of the barge by the equipment mounted on the barge, as hereinafter explained. A relatively small platform can be mounted upon the caisson, if desired. The caisson may be sunk and the platform erected close to the barge and then the barge may be moved to a safe Working distance, for example, about 50 feet, from the platfornI-in order to minimize damage or loss by fire, blow-out, etc.

In order to accomplish this, the barge is provided with a novel movable bridge unit, or combination bridge,

derrick floor and derrick mast structure, serving as a mounting for a substantially complete drill or servicing rig. The derrick mast is pivoted over the derrick floor at the forward end of the bridge unit in such a way that it can be raised from .a horizontal position resting on top of the bridge into a vertical operating position by a cable, conventional jacks, and/or boomer legs interconnecting the derrick and the bridge. The bridge unit simplifies the derrick raising and lowering operations at an over-water well site, by providing a long stable base.

One of the features of the invention is that the drilling mast can be converted to install a caisson or other well head supporting structure by connecting a boom topping line to the upper end of the mast and leaning the mast forward to bring the crown block into vertical alignment with the structure to be handled. In the same manner, the mast can be used for structure salvaging operations in the event that the well is abandoned.

Another feature of the invention is that the mast and the rig components can also be used to preload the caisson where bottom soil conditions due to grain size or coarseness and other factors preclude developing a substantial load-bearing capacity through skin friction. The preloading of the caisson is accomplished by transferring a measured portion of the weight of the barge to the caisson, substantially in excess of the caisson design load. In this way it is possible to test the caissons load carrying ability, to make certain it will not settle in use.

The load-bearing ability of structural foundations in areas having a deep, fine-grained soil bottom is greatly affected by the skin friction that develops over a period of time. Recent test data indicates that such areas may develop skin friction and mud shear strength values, ranging from 0 lb. per sq. ft. at the mud line to as high as 1,000 lbs. per sq. ft. at a l00-ft. depth of mud penetration. These values vary with the area, depth of mud and the coarse grain stratas that may be penetrated, as well as with the time period of setting up or gelling.

Patented Sept. 26., 1961 In an area where advantage can be taken of this skin friction characteristic, it is possible to sink a caisson to a less depth for a given bearing load if the mud is allowed a period of time to set up or gell before application of the full design load. Thus, a caisson or piling forced into mud and subjected to a certain load, will, after a certain time interval, be able to support a much greater load than when it was first forced into the mud.

The present invention takes advantage of this phenomenon by providing apparatus and methods whereby a load bearing factor for any given area can be determined for use in accurately designing well head supporting structures of minimum dimensions. It will be apparent that, with knowledge of the load bearing factor of a particular area, a caisson of shorter length and smaller diameter may be designed to support a given load, than would be the case of a caisson where driven to the necessary depth to provide the desired bearing capacity, Without taking advantage of the gelling property of the mud. To develop such a factor, a caisson or the like is forced downwardly into the mud by applying a predetermined measured load thereto. The load is removed and the caisson permitted to stand While the mud sets up or gells about the same, say for a period of about 24 hours. Then a measured .load is applied to the caisson to determine its load carrying ability before further penetration starts. The ratio between the two measured forces represents the load bearing factor of the particular area, for a given setting up or gelling time, the depth of penetration, and the caisson used. With this information, it is possible to determine in advance how deep the caisson should be sunk in the particular area in order to safely support a given working load after a certain length of time. This avoids the uncertainty attached to prior Well head support installations, making it possible to design a caisson of minimum length for supporting a given load in a particular soft bottom soil area.

Another feature of the invention is the method of relieving a caisson installed as above described, of the static or equipment load. This makes it possible to start .drilling operations immediately after sinking the caisson and without waiting for the mud to set up or gell, since the working loads are very light during the initial stages of well drilling. Under ordinary circumstances the mud would be completely set up by the time that the heavy working loads are applied.

A typical example of the gelling phenomenon is the case of an off-shore drilling installation in which 24" pipe piles were driven to a depth of about 200 feet into the mud without reaching refusal. When the platform was salvaged, some months later, a lift of about 350 tons was applied to the piles without being able to move them. If a load bearing factor had been determined for this area, it is probable that piles one-half the length would have been adequate and salvagable.

The installation of the well head supporting structure, the salvaging, and other heavy lift operations are preferably carried out with the forward end of the bridge unit supported on the deck near the end of the barge.

The bridge is made long enough to span any desired gap between the barge and platform or well head. The bridge preferably has all major rig components necessary for well drilling or servicing operations permanently mounted thereon. The equipment mounted on the bridge comprises conventional drilling or servicing components so arranged as to locate the center of gravity of the bridge unit towards its aft end. A movable support is disposed beneath the center of gravity so that the bridge unit is balanced on said support.

The bridge support. is mounted upon shoes that slide 3 p along tracks secured to the barge deck. As a safety measure, the shoes are designed so that they permit movement of the support only in a direction longitudinally of the tracks. The shoes are connected to chains arranged so that the support and bridge canbe moved to and held in any desired position on the tracks. l

The bridge unit is preferably mounted upon its support in such manner as to enable the forward end of the bridge to be moved up or down or shifted sidewise relative to the barge. This makes it possible to project the bridge over the well head in a raised position and then lower the bridge to contact the Well head'supporting structure under exact control. It also makes it possible to spot the bridge end over a well head supporting structure that is not in true alignment with the tracks on the barge.

Assuming the well head supporting structure has been erected, and the barge repositioned at the desired distance away, the bridge is moved into a position spanning the gap between the barge and such structure with theforward end of the bridge above such structure. This end of the bridge may carry adjustable connecting jacks or an adapter for connecting the bridge to the platform or caisson. This connection serves to transfer the vertical reaction of the working load from the bridge to the platform or caisson, and also causes the bridge to brace the caisson and the derrick against lateral forces from any direction during drilling or servicing operations.

As an alternative, the *bridge may carry a separable platform below the derrick floor that can be set down on the well head supporting structure by the bridge. This platform may be left on the well head structure or retracted with the bridge at the conclusion of operations,

as desired.

In another modification of the invention, a platform structure may be built into the bridge to serve as a subderrick floor, and to similarly connect the bridge with the upper end of a caisson or well head supporting struc- I ture.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a caisson guide at one end of the barge for guiding a caisson or similar structure while it is being driven or installed.

Another feature is that the barge includes crews quarters (not shown) together with all facilities for carrying on machine shop and repair work in remote areas. The barge is also equipped to salvage the well head supporting structure for reuse, if the Well is non-productive.

A further feature of the invention is that, after a producing well has been drilled or serviced, the drilling or servicing equipment can be easily and quickly removed for use at another well site. 'This is safely and quickly accomplished in a matter of minutes by retracting the bridge from the Well head, jacking the barge down onto the water, and moving the barge away.

Another important feature is to provide a quick and safe method to get back over the well head for servicing even in rough water.

The principal object of this invention is to provide overwater well drilling and servicing apparatus and methods that will greatly speed up drilling and servicing operations and reduce their costs.

Another important object is to reduce the current hazards of over water drilling and servicing operations and to eliminate the costs and loss of time occasioned by unfavorable weather and water conditions.

1 for this purpose.

(2) Reducing the rigging up rigging down time and costs by providing anovel arrangement of major :well drilling "or servicing components permanently asthe components always ready to be quickly positioned in working alignment with a well head.

(3) Quickly setting up a rig for drilling or servicing operations by projecting or retracting the bridge unit over water into or out of operative engagement with a well head, under exact control, in a matter of minutes, even in rough water, thereby saving many days of rigging time. j

(4) Making it possible to reduce the size and lower the cost of a well head supporting structure by: p

(a) Laterally bracing such structure by the well servicing or drilling apparatus through its bridge unit against the working loads imposed during the well drilling or servicing operations; 1

(b) Relieving the well head supporting structure of the major static weight of the bridge unit and its components during drilling or servicing operations;

(0) Eliminating the need for leaving a permanent derrick on the well head structure for well servicing or recompletion purposes, whereby the well head supporting structure may be designed for less than half the load such structures usually carry with prior methods and equipment; and

(d) Determining a load bearing factor in water covered soft bottom areas for use in accurately designing Well head supporting structures of minimum dimensions.

(5 Transferring the vertical drilling or servicing working loads from the derrick to a well head supporting struc ture, thereby eliminating a heavy cantilever load on the rig support and making it possible to locate such support a substantial and safe working distance from the Well (6) Reducing operational hazards by preloading a well head supporting structure to test its load carrying ability to make certain the structure will not settle in use.

(7) Quickly salvaging the well head supporting structure for use at another site in case the well drilled turns out to be non-productive.

(8) Quickly and safely positioning well drilling and/ or servicing apparatus in an operative relation within safe working distance'of a well head, even in rough water.

(9) Reducing the current hazards of overwater oil well operations by making available a stable platform at a safe distance away from the well head from which to carry out remedial operations if the well should'get out of control due to fire, blow-out, collision or other causes.

FIG. 1 is a side View of one form of caisson-equipped barge raised above the water, and showing in dot-and-dash lines, the derrick mast leaning forward to lower a well head caisson through a caisson guide;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the caisson sunk and a platform being moved by an auxiliary crane into position over the caisson;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing the barge spaced from the platform and the bridge unit extended over the water from the barge to the platform and with the derrick mast in its lowered position;

FIG. 4 is a left side view corresponding to FIG. 3, but showing the derrick in its normal vertical position;

FIG. 5 is a right end View of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary view illustrating one form of apparatus that may be employed to preload or force a caisson downwardly;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of another form of apparatus that can be used to force a caisson downwardly;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIGS. 1 and 7, respectively, illustrating details of the caisson guide;

FIG. 9 is a right end view partly in section of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7; I

FIG. 10 is a'diagrarnrnatic sideview showing the tracks, support and shoe assembly for the bridge unit and the mechanism for moving the shoes along their tracks;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view of one of the shoes and the frame for supporting the turntable of the bridge unit;

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 1313 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a sectional plan view of the turntable taken on the line 1414 of FIG. 1;

FIG. is a fragmentary plan view of the platform;

FIG. 16 is a sectional View taken on the line 1616 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view of a modification embodying a pivotally mounted turntable for the bridge unit;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken on the line 18-18 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken on the line 1919 of FIG. 17;

FIG. is a fragmentary view partly in section of one of the two screw jacks at the forward end of the bridge unit;

FIG. 21 is a side view showing the use of the present apparatus in connection with a barge sunk in shallow water and a platform mounted on a plurality of pilings;

FIG. 22 is a right end view of the platform and apparatus shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a plan view of the platform shown in FIGS. 21 and 22;

FIG. 24 is a sectional view taken on the line 2424 of FIG. 23;

FIG. is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 25--25 of FIG. 24, illustrating the manner in which the platform is clamped to the piling;

FIG. 26 is a sectional view through a modified form of bridge structure including a derrick subfioor and an adapter that can be positioned on the top of a caisson to transmit the working load to a well head supporting structure;

FIG. 27 is a fragmentary view illustrating still another modification in which a platform structure is detachably secured to one end of the bridge unit;

FIG. 28 is a side view of a modification in which an auxiliary crane is mounted at one side of the bridge unit;

FIG. 29 is a fragmentary plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 28;

FIG. is a sectional view taken on the line 3030 of FIG. 28;

FIG. 31 is a side view of a relatively lighter form of apparatus particularly adapted for well servicing;

FIG. 32 is a right end view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 31; and

FIG. 33 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which the servicing barge may be manipulated to make a safe approach to a well head.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, a barge that may be used for either well drilling or servicing operations is generally identified by the numeral 1. The barge comprises a hull 2 having a working deck 3. The hull 2 has openings 4 extending therethrough in spaced relation adjacent its opposite sides 5 and 6. A cylindrical caisson 7 of substantial length, depending upon the depth of the water and bottom characteristics, is mounted in each opening 4 and may be held in a raised position by a caisson jack 8 of any known or suitable construction while the barge is moved to a well site. The jacks 8 may be actuated by equipment (not shown) contained on the barge 1.

After the barge 1 has been moved to the well location, the jacks 8 are operated to lower the caissons 7 into the water. As is well known, the jacks 8 include elements for successively gripping and releasing the caissons 7 in a manner to force the caissons downwardly, such action being reversible when it is desired to raise the caissons. The jacks 8 are operated to raise the barge 1 relative to the caissons 7 until the barge is lifted to the desired height above the Water, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5. The caissons 7 are then locked against movement relative to the barge 1 by the jacks 8, or by clamping the caissons by any suitable means to hold the barge raised for drilling or servicing operations.

A pair of rails or tracks 9 extends lengthwise along the central portion of the barge 1, as best shown in FIG. 3. Each of the tracks 9 may consist of beam sections of generally H-shaped configuration (see FIG. 13). A support 10 is mounted upon the tracks 9 and is movable to any desired position lengthwise of the barge :1. The support 10 is illustrtated in detail in FIGS. 10 to 14, and includes a rectangular frame consisting of side members 11 positioned above the tracks 9 and connected adjacent their ends by cross members 12. The side members 11 and the cross members 12 are preferably made of I-beam sections welded or otherwise secured together. With more particular reference to FIG. 10, a bracket 13 is welded to the underside of the side members 11 at the forward end (right end) thereof and a bracket 14 is similarly welded to the aft or left end of said members. A pair of forward shoes .15 is pivotally connected to the bracket 13 by pins 16. A pair of aft shoes 17 is similarly connected to the brackets 14 by pins .18. The shoes 17 have a recess 19 (FIG. 13) to receive the upper flange of the tracks 9. The shoes 17 are held to the tracks 9 by gibs 20 connected to the shoes by bolts 21. The recess 19 is provided with lubricant grooves 22 and a grease fitting 23 communicates with said grooves. The forward shoes 15 are of similar construction and are held on the tracks 9 by similar gibs 24 and bolts 25. Thus, the support-10 is mounted on the tracks 9 so that it can be moved to any position along the tracks 9 and held in such position by mechanism which will now be described.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 10 and 11, a reversible electric motor 26 is secured to the deck 3 and is connected by a coupling 27 to a conventional, non-coasting, gear reduction unit 28. A shaft 29 extends from opposite sides of the gear unit 28 and each of its ends is mounted in a pair of bearings 30 fixed to the deck 3 at the aft end of the tracks 9. A drive sprocket 31 is mounted on the shaft 29 between each pair of bearings 30. A relatively small sprocket 32 is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 33 carried by each of the shoes 17. Separate chains 34 extend over the sprocket 32 of each shoe 17 and one end of each chain is anchored to the bearings 30 as indicated at 35. Each chain 34 extends around one of the large sprockets 31 and then forwardly around similar sprockets 36 mounted upon shafts 37 journaled in spaced bearings 38. The bearings 38 are fixed to the deck 3 at the forward end of the tracks 9. The chains 34 ftu'ther extend around small sprockets 39, similar to the sprockets 32, rotatably mounted upon shafts 40 carried by the forward shoes 15. The opposite ends of the chains 34 are anchored to the bearings 38 as indicated at 41.

When the motor 26 is operated to cause the drive sprockets 31 to rotate clockwise, the support 10 will be moved to the right, as viewed in FIG. 10, and when the direction of rotation of the driving sprockets 31 is reversed, support 10 will be moved along the tracks 9 toward the left. Since the gear reduction unit 28 is noncoasting the support 10 will be locked by the chains 34 in any position along the tracks 9 to which it has been moved, upon stopping of the motor 26.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 14, a circular track or turn table 45 is disposed above the side members 11 and cross members 12 of the support 10 and is preferably welded thereto. The track 45 is I-shaped in cross section, as shown in FIG. 12. Diagonal braces 46 underlie the track 45 and connect the side members 11 with the 

